The Lincoln County Sheriffâ€™s Office joined forces with federal authorities Thursday morning in their first round-up of the new year, apprehending more than half of the individuals wanted in the operation, codenamed â€œ.38 Special.â€
Earlier this month, a grand jury indicted a total of 38 individuals whom authorities have deemed â€œthe areaâ€™s biggest street level dealers,â€ according to a Sheriffâ€™s Office press release.
An undercover investigation began in August 2011, following the countyâ€™s last round-up effort, Operation Rolling 50, in which 50 individuals were also arrested on drug-related charges.
Following a briefing at the countyâ€™s Emergency Medical Services headquarters, the Sheriffâ€™s SWAT team, led by Narcotics Lt. Jason Reid, aided in the arrest of Thursdayâ€™s first suspect, knocking down the door of a residence on Grandview Lane where the offender and another man were staying. Both individuals have been accused of running a prescription pill operation out of the home, authorities said.
All suspects named in Operation .38 Special have been accused of using and selling a variety of illegal substances including marijuana, heroin and cocaine, among others, according to narcotics investigators.
â€œItâ€™s pretty much spread across the board,â€ Reid said.
He also noted that area offenders will be more difficult to apprehend with the increase in round-up efforts, adding that suspects will have to find different ways of out-smarting law enforcement officials, including dealing in out-of-county locations.
Catawba County Sheriffâ€™s deputies and six individuals with the United States Marshals Service aided Lincoln County authorities in Thursdayâ€™s operation, Reid said.
Sheriff David Carpenter is confident that the round-up will yield positive results in the county, even in the months to come. He stated in a press release that authorities are â€œcombating the manufacture and sale of illicit drugs â€¦ by the proactive relationship with every agencyâ€ throughout the region.
â€œWe will continue to see the fruits of this hard work,â€ he said.
The Sheriffâ€™s Office plans to carry out at least two drug round-ups a year.
Authorities ask that residents continue to keep a vigilant eye on suspicious activity in their neighborhoods and report any information to the countyâ€™s tip line at (704) 736-8422. Individuals can also contact Crime Stoppers at (704) 736-8909. Tips may remain anonymous, and anyone with information leading to an arrest may receive a reward of up to $1,000.
The following individuals had been arrested as of Thursday afternoon. Patrol deputies will be in charge of apprehending additional at-large suspects.
Stewart Lacy Earle, 57, of 308 Grandview Ln. in Lincolnton was charged with one felony count each of sell and deliver a schedule IV controlled substance and possession with the intent to manufacture, sell and deliver a schedule IV controlled substance. A $10,000 secured bond was set.
Larry Dale Penley, 58, of 308 Grandview Ln. in Lincolnton was charged with three felony counts of trafficking heroin, possession of a controlled substance schedule IV and sell and deliver a controlled substance schedule IV.Â Â A $20,000 secured bond was set.
Donald Christopher Bracey, 44, of 2535 Woodland Hill Trl. in Lincolnton was charged with two felony each of sell and deliver cocaine and possession with the intent to manufacture, sell and deliver cocaine; one count of maintaining a vehicle or dwelling for a controlled substance.Â A $10,000 secured was set.
Rita Ann Powell, 57, of 1749 Salem Church Rd. in Lincolnton was charged with one felony count each of possession with the intent to manufacture, sell and deliver a schedule III controlled substance and sell and deliver a Schedule III controlled substance.Â A $10,000 secured bond was set.
Lewis Dean Shaw, 51, of 3655 Shaw Estates Ln. in Lincolnton was charged with one felony count each of trafficking in opium by sale; trafficking by possession; trafficking by delivery; possession with the intent to manufacture, sell and deliver a schedule IV controlled substance; sell and deliver a schedule IV controlled substance. A $40,000 secured bond was set.
Mary Cody Stamey, 43, of 4759 Westwinds Rd. in Lincolnton was charged with one-count each of possession with the intent to manufacture, sell and deliver morphine, sell and deliver Morphine and conspiracy to sell and deliver a schedule II controlled substance.Â A $10,000 secured bond was set.
Danny Lee Walker, 61, of South Grove Street Ext. in Lincolnton was charged with one-count of trafficking heroin.Â A $20,000 secured bond was set.
Clayton James Waynick, 24, of 532 South Eighth St. in Maiden was charged with one-count each of possession with the intent to manufacture, sell and deliver heroin and sell and deliver heroin. A $15,000 secured bond was set.
Bobby Wayne Langley, 52, of 1411 Round Tree Ln. in Lincolnton was charged with one-count each of trafficking in opium by possession and obtaining a controlled substance by fraud or forgery. A $20,000 secured bond was set.
Susan Tench Fitzgerald, 50, of 1828 Fitzgerald-Stowe Ln. in Lincolnton was charged with one-count each of possession with the intent to manufacture, sell and deliver marijuana and sell and deliver marijuana. A $20,000 secured bond was set.
Elizabeth Lynn Meadows, 27, of 5927 Old Plank Rd. in Stanley, was charged with possession of heroin and maintaining a vehicle/dwelling for a controlled substance. A $15,000 secured bond was set.
Joshua Jezreel Duncan, 22, of 1058 Drexall Ln. in Lincolnton was charged with one-count each of possession with the intent to manufacture, sell and deliver cocaine; sell and deliver cocaine; possession with the intent to manufacture, sell and deliver Alprazolam; sell and deliver Alprazolam; trafficking in Opium by sale, possession and delivery; possession with the intent to manufacture, sell and deliver marijuana; sell and deliver marijuana. A $50,000 secured bond was set.
Adam Lee Braddy, 27, of 613 North Flint St. in Lincolnton was charged with one-count each of trafficking in Opium by sale; trafficking in Opium by possession; trafficking in Opium by transport; possession with the intent to manufacture, sell and deliver Oxycodone and sell and deliver Oxycodone. A $40,000 secured bond was set.
James Brownell Bradstreet, 51, of 3442 Fostall Ln. in Lincolnton was charged with one felony count each of possession of a schedule I controlled substance.Â A $10,000 secured bond was set.
Jackie Johnson Haynes, 49, of 1557 Leonardâ€™s Fork Church Rd. in Crouse was charged with one felony count each of possession with the intent to manufacture, sell and deliver a schedule II controlled substance and sell and deliver a schedule II controlled substance.Â A $20,000 secured bond was set.
Jonathan Logan Whitesides, 36, of 2043 Tin Mine Rd. in Lincolnton was charged with one felony count each of possession with the intent to sell and deliver marijuana; maintaining a vehicle/dwelling for a controlled substance; sell and deliver marijuana; conspiracy to sell and deliver a schedule VI controlled substance. A $9,999 secured bond was set.
Luther Bolton Vassey, 30, of 3089 River Rd. in Lincolnton was charged with one-count each of possession with the intent to manufacture, sell and deliver Heroin and sell and deliver Heroin. A $30,000 secured bond was set.
Kenneth Allen Hullett, 51, of 2198 Amy Dr. in Lincolnton was charged with one-count each of possession with the intent to manufacture, sell and deliver cocaine, maintaining a vehicle/dwelling for a controlled substance and manufacturing cocaine.Â A $20,000 secured bond was set.
Travis Santel Ramseur, 33, of 306 Kilborne Dr. in Newton was charged with possession with the intent to manufacture, sell and deliver marijuana and sell and deliver marijuana. A $20,000 secured bond was set.
Traci Danielle Hartley, 36, of 1911 Alpine Ln. in Gastonia was charged with possession with the intent to manufacture, sell and deliver a schedule IV controlled substance; sell and deliver cocaine; possession with the intent to manufacture, sell and deliver cocaine.Â A $20,000 secured bond was set.
Sandy Lavandar Ray, 37, of 3323 Beal Rd. in Maiden was charged with one-count each of sell and deliver a schedule II controlled substance, possession with the intent to manufacture, sell and deliver a schedule II controlled substance. A $16,000 secured bond was set.

Masked agents enter a Grandview Lane home in Lincolnton to arrest two drug suspects in Operation .38 Special.